Facing the Truth

Facing the Truth

Facing the Truth

Facing the truth is sometimes very hard. Accepting the blame is not fun or easy. But it is necessary in order to live authentically. How about you? Do you accept the reality of your sinfulness? Sure, it’s one of the hardest things to do. But it is also one of the things that bless us the most. Because when we come to terms with our sinfulness, we are ready to receive the only effective remedy for sin known to humankind: God’s grace.

For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. (Romans 3:23, NLT,*)

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:8-9, NIV,*)

Facing the truth

As Augustine has said, “Sin is believing the lie that you are self-created, self-dependent and self-sustained.” How true. We so badly want to believe we are independent and mighty powerful. It may be true for small stuff but not on the big matters that have real value. We are dependent on God and the sooner we realize it, the better off we are. Because that’s when we are encountering God and his grace. Nothing better in my book. Also, we can be certain, we will never be short-changed when we deal with God.

Growing in grace

Just think of Peter, how he cried over his sins after denying Jesus three times (Matt. 26:75). Jesus forgave him and made him a great apostle. The Peter we meet in the gospels and the Peter we meet in his letters are like night and day. Lots of spiritual growth had happened between them.

Facing the truth is the start of amazing things. If we dare to confess our sins, we will receive grace upon grace. And that grace will continue to change us if we allow it. A bit by bit we mature in Christ. And it all starts with facing the truth.

 

Gracious God,
Thank you for calling us to face the truth of our sinfulness.
Be praised for providing us as much grace as we need.
We are dependent on you, Lord.
Thank you for your tender loving care.
Continue to work in us, make us more like you.
Let us feel your sweet presence in our lives.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen

Q4U: How have you been blessed when facing the truth of your need of forgiveness?

Be blessed, my fellow pilgrim, as you dare to face the truth of your own sinfulness and encounter grace upon grace.

* [As you might have noticed, I enjoy reading the Bible in different translations and love comparing them. I have started linking the Bible verses toBiblegateway.com so you can easily read (and compare) them in the different versions I’ve used while preparing each post.].

Image courtesy of Aaron Burden via unsplash.com, design by Mari-Anna Stålnacke. Linking up today with Dance with Jesus, Five-minute Friday.

4 thoughts on “Facing the Truth

  1. I love your thoughts on Peter here. Poet Luci Shaw point out in one of her (beautiful) poems that the difference between Judas and Peter with their very similar failings but their radically different outcomes was that Peter trusted for “grace to cry and wait.” So often we don’t give our hearts time to catch up to the truth that will save us.

  2. AND that is why Truth sets us free! Because we face our Goliath and deal with it OR let God deal with it (the best deal!). Your neighbor at FMF today.

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